were contaminated; they inhaled and obviously ingested certain indeterzinate amounts
-
of material,
.
+.
.
The body burdens of isotopes in these individuals was evaluated by radio chemical
analysis of the urine of the exposed people and assisted by studies on swine,
These
swine were removed from the island at a later date.
The urinary and fecal excretion
was studied and ultimately the animals vere killed.
Extensive radio chenicals anslysisz
were made of their entire bodies.
By comparison approximations of body burdens of
radionuclides was made.
| Rare and alkeline earths accounted for about 70% of the urine activity.
tium 89 was about at the maximum pernissable level at one day.
Strom
Iodine 132 and other
members of the iodine family which had to be present early, resulted in a dose of
rediation to the thyroid glands, estimated between 100 and 150 rep.
must be added the penetrating external gamma component.
barely detectable in the urine.
To this of course,
By 6 months radiation vas
At 2 years from analysis of pooled urine samples
and individual samples very tiny amounts of Sr90, Ca49, pr. and Cs were present*,
The results of the three year rediochemical analysis of tke urines that were recently
collected are not completed as yet.
It was believed that the body burdens of these
people was very low and probably biologically insignificant,
However it was decided to
bring some of the individuals to the United States for study with the total body gamma
counter at the Argonne Kational Laboratory.
This decision was mede not because of
any fear but beGause the analysis of the urine and the animal analysis was an indim
ect means to obtain probable body burdens.
It was obviously desireable to obtain a
firm direct measurement of the body turden from the scientific standpoint and to
determine the precise body burdens.
Four individuals from the Rongelap group, two
from the Utirik group and one control Marshallese (a total of 7) were trought to the
United Stefes and taken to the Argonne Neticnal Laboratory.
There , under the direction
of Drs, Marinelli, Rose and Miller the tote] body gemma activity was measured.
*
The
Studies performed both at U, S. Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory and Walter
Reed Army Medical Center.
.
DOEARCHIVES
ILE